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Floating Subtitles on Mac

This page covers the Mac setup for floating subtitles. For how it works and supported platforms, see the Floating Subtitles overview.

On Mac, Whisperr captures System audio — whatever you're hearing from a video, call, or any other app — and shows live subtitles in a small always-on-top floating window that stays visible over whatever else you're doing, including another app in full screen.

How to Use Floating Subtitles on Mac​

  1. Download Whisperr for Mac (an Apple Silicon .dmg), open the downloaded file, and drag Whisperr into your Applications folder
  2. Launch Whisperr and set your languages: pick the language you're hearing under Speaking and the one to Translate to
Setting the Speaking and Translate to languages in the Whisperr desktop app
  1. Switch the source toggle to 🔊 System audio — when macOS prompts, allow audio access
Whisperr desktop app with the System audio source selected
  1. Click the round record button — Whisperr transcribes everything playing on your Mac and shows the translation live
Clicking the record button in the Whisperr desktop app
  1. Play your video or join your call — subtitles update in real time as the audio plays. Use the Both / Transcription / Translation tabs to choose what's shown
Choosing Both, Transcription, or Translation in the Whisperr desktop app
Live subtitles from system audio with translation in the Whisperr desktop app
  1. To keep subtitles on screen while you switch to something else, click the floating subtitles icon next to the full-screen button (in the same panel as the tabs above). It opens a small window that stays on top of everything else — even another app in full screen — so you're not stuck keeping the Whisperr window visible next to your content
The floating subtitles toggle button in the Whisperr desktop app, turned on
  1. Click that same icon again to make the floating window transparent — instead of a solid panel, only the caption text shows, so whatever's behind the window (your video, a call, another app) stays fully visible. A third click closes the window; clicking once more re-opens it as a solid panel again
The floating subtitles window as a solid panel

Solid panel (1st click)

The floating subtitles window in transparent mode, showing only the caption text over other content

Transparent (2nd click)

You can drag the floating window anywhere on screen, and it remembers its position and size the next time you open it. A small × in its corner closes it directly.

Common Issues (Mac)​

No audio is captured​

Whisperr needs audio-capture access to hear your system audio. If nothing is transcribed:

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording (or the audio-access prompt shown when you first start)
  3. Turn on Whisperr, then restart the app

Microphone is selected instead of System audio​

To subtitle what you're hearing (not what you say), make sure the source toggle shows 🔊 System audio, not 🎙️ Microphone.

Subtitles are empty while audio plays​

Confirm the audio is actually playing through your Mac's output under System Settings > Sound > Output, and that the app or tab isn't muted.

Still nothing​

Restart the app and try again.

Still not working? Contact Support